2007-2008 SFDS Annual Report - San Francisco Day School

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“My sentiments encompass gratitude, excitement, and clear- eyed awareness of the challenges ahead.” New Programs, 2008-09 The following are program enhancements derived from our renewed commitment to differentiated instruction. • • • • • • Dr. David E. Jackson Teacher Salary Increase Learning Resource Program (LRP) Faculty increased to 8.5 Full Time Employees Co-Teachers in K, Grades 1, 4, 6/7 (English / History) Additional Teacher Associates in Art, LS and US Science Challenge Math Groups in Grades 5-7 Expanded Teacher Professional Development – Summer Institute for Teaching and Learning (ITL) 1 SAN FRANCISCO DAY SCHOOL From the Head of the School Looking back in November, now five months after the conclusion of my first year as Head of School, I feel gratitude and excitement, and have a clear-eyed awareness of the challenges ahead. The welcome I received from the SFDS community was enthusiastic and deeply intelligent. Throughout my many parent meetings and classroom observations, I consistently encountered a community of parents, alumni, students, and teachers eager for probing and extended conversations about education. Two characteristics of those many first-year conversations stand out. First, everyone believes profoundly in the power of education to make a positive difference in the lives of children and adolescents, and that belief energizes real dedication. Everyone is committed to providing an education that convinces children and adolescents that they can learn more than they realized. Second, no one is looking for simple answers to complex issues. Everyone understands that educating young minds and hearts, in all their diversity and intricacy, with a nuanced and manylayered curriculum, is an incredibly difficult task. Of course, as my grandmother used to say, “Nothing of value in this world is easy to accomplish.” Financing an independent school education is not possible without the generosity of its community. The Day School distinguishes itself with both the level of participation of the parents in the life of the School as volunteers and their donations to the Annual Fund and other fundraising activities. All of us who work at SFDS are deeply appreciative of each and every gift of time, thought, energy, and funds. We concluded last year with a commitment to expand the range of our instructional methods in order to optimally educate all of our students. There was a broad-based consensus that given the founding values of San Francisco Day School as a family school and the heterogeneity of the student body, differentiated instruction was a necessity. Now in the beginning months of the 2008-09 school year, the faculty are implementing these enhancements to the education our students receive (see sidebar). We have adopted the phrase “No Ceiling/ No Threshold” to describe our approach to differentiated instruction. No ceiling means that all students will be challenged to high levels of accomplishment. No threshold means that every student will be provided access to mastery of basic skills, understanding of major curriculum content, and development of critical thinking skills. Instructional methods will be designed to meet students’ needs. Looking ahead, two challenges have emerged. First, the complexity of implementing differentiated instruction in all classrooms in all subjects is upon us. We understand the importance of maintaining our attention and focus over the next few years so that we find ways to broaden our repertoire of instructional methods and implement them consistently with judgment and nuance appropriate to the intricate minds in our classrooms. Second, the financial crisis affecting the economy will reduce school revenues and impact families. We will find ways to function with restricted financial resources and to support families personally affected by the economy, while maintaining the highest quality education for our children. Thank you for the energetic welcome to SFDS. I feel fortunate and privileged to be working in a community truly attentive to the needs of children and adolescents and willing to create a nurturing and challenging environment for them. David E. Jackson, Ed.D. Head of School, 2007-2008
From the President of the Board of Trustees The biggest news in the 2007-2008 school year was that the school community enthusiastically welcomed David Jackson, our new head of school, and his wife, Phyllis, to San Francisco. Dr. Jackson energetically embraced the mission, values and characteristics of the School while lending his extensive experience, compassion, curiosity, and wonder to our community. In 2007-2008, the board reaffirmed its three primary purposes as an independent school board: the support of the head of school, the stewardship of its resources, and the keeping of the mission. The board’s responsibility in Dr. Jackson’s first year was to support and familiarize him with the workings and rationale of the SFDS program. He sat in on innumerable committee meetings and also visited every classroom. In his April report to the trustees, Dr. Jackson reviewed both curriculum and teaching practices and administrative processes. New differentiated instruction programs were presented and implemented. A new benchmark-based budgeting process was introduced; the faculty compensation system was reviewed and updated to better reflect board guidelines; and a Summer Institute on Teaching and Learning was created. The board fully supported these programs and initiatives. As part of its stewardship responsibilities, the trustees monitor the physical plant and manage the financial resources of the School. This past year, after reviewing a proposal by a joint committee of trustees and administrators, the board approved extensive work on the technology infrastructure of the School which was completed in the summer of 2008. This work included new computers and smart boards, as well as cabling, servers, and an updated telephone system. This year Elaine Foppiano, chair of the Parents Association, worked with fellow officers to reorganize the responsibilities and activities of the PA to better reflect the needs of both parents and the School. Our many parent volunteers contributed untold hours to the community throughout the year. Nearly 100% of our parent body contributed close to $1 million to the Annual Fund, and with the generosity of a Challenge Grant, the Annual Fund totaled $1,078,736. Clay Corbus, Rob Gorlin and Rob Hurlbut, Annual Fund chairs, were the drivers behind these efforts. At year end, the trustees were pleased to welcome five new members to join the board - Sandy Dean, Malcolm John, Carl Kawaja, Laura Spivy and Diana Wolf. We also bade farewell to departing trustees Adam Elsesser, Elaine Foppiano, Midge Wilson, Melanie Young and Ron Zeff. This was my third year as board president and tenth year at San Francisco Day School. I am pleased to report that both the board and the School have remained true to the mission of inspiring students to “achieve their highest academic and creative potential, to embrace ethical values and to become active contributors to their communities.” The School has many exciting and ambitious plans for the upcoming year. All of these are made possible through the efforts of an accomplished and dedicated faculty, a team of experienced administrators, and the generous efforts of its parent community. Thank you for your support of San Francisco Day School. We all look forward to the years ahead under Dr. Jackson’s leadership. Su Moon-Paik President, Board of Trustees 2007-2008 Board of Trustees Su-Moon Paik, President Kirsten Bibbens-Domingo, Vice President Diana L. Nelson, Vice President Adam Elsesser, Secretary Melinda Ellis Evers, Treasurer Elaine Foppiano, Parents Association President David E. Jackson, Head of School Nancy Adler Beth Berliner Lesley Bunim Peter Dickstein Mike Halper Janie Havemeyer Susan Mayer Hirsch Lynn B. Kaplan Lenny Lieberman Kamini Ramini Leslee Subak Peter Thorp Midge Wilson Yvonne Wu Melanie Young Ron Zeff Advisory Board Frank Damon Doris Fisher Bob Green Kaatri Grigg Ellen M. LaFollette Linda Meier Louise Rosenberg Sally Rosenblatt SAN FRANCISCO DAY SCHOOL 2
Page 1 and 2: San Francisco Day School 2007-2008
Page 3: Mission Statement San Francisco Day
Page 7 and 8: From the President of the Parents A
Page 9 and 10: From the Treasurer San Francisco Da
Page 11 and 12: Parents Barbara and Fred Abbott Lin
Page 13 and 14: Karen P. Richards Mr. and Mrs. J. N
Page 15 and 16: SFDS Endowment Funds* Over time, ma
Page 17 and 18: Breakthrough Student Work Summer Re
Page 19 and 20: Rob Williams and Rick Kuno La Pena
Page 21 and 22: Mollie Gardner ‘95 attended Hamil
Page 23 and 24: What were the first steps in implem
Page 25 and 26: Evelyn Manies joined the Day School
Page 27 and 28: How is Michellie a product of a Day
Page 29 and 30: Mia Bennett ‘02 I’m at UCLA pur
Page 31 and 32: Poetry Excerpts from Sonar Each spr
Page 33 and 34: Class of 2008 2007-2008 Faculty and
Page 35 and 36: The Annual Report is published by t

2007-2008 SFDS Annual Report - San Francisco Day School

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